Bayern Munich kicks off against Union Berlin — Goliath Vs. David — at 9 AM PST. Yesterday was fun, and we’ll do it again today. Let us banter. Talk soon!
What do my American viewers think of Fox's halftime strategy of "we're not even gonna try; here's a shitload of commercials and promos of future Bundesliga games"?
As someone who only has watched the Prem but is giving Bundesliga a shot because I'm sports starved it's frustrating to not have the context that a halftime show could provide. Is this normally how Fox handles things or is this COVID specific?
They also have Dejan Kulusevski coming in. If Pjanic is leaving, then Rabiot's only behind Matuidi and Betancur in Serie A minutes among Juve midfielders. Matuidi is 33, too.
Looks like Union Berlin are ... +1300 for the win. I tried to get some info on how books were approaching the empty stadium situation -- only for a bookmaker to tell me "home-field advantage is a myth". That's, uh, yeah. Anyway, those seem like incredibly long odds for a team that's playing at home within the current weirdness, but we shall see. https://twitter.com/DaveMasonBOL/status/1262046846958080000
Did not mention it yesterday but would just like to point out that we might have an O'Hanlon curse on our hands. Leipzig yesterday and the memorable Watford Liverpool game too.
is 5 subs going to be a common thing for most leagues and competitions that come back? Cant wait for the first club to do something wild like sub in 3+ fresh attackers at once past 70 minutes. or a team with a lead swapping in 3+ fresh defenders for attackers. give me chaos.
The lack of production/financial effort is pretty amazing. But this is their last season w/ the rights, correct? Isn't Bundesliga going to ESPN+ next season?
Fair to say that Bayern didn't have a better plan for Goretzka than "we bought him to keep our challengers down and monopolize German talent. I guess he can get some touches in the central third?" He's putting up good G+A numbers in limited minutes, but it doesn't seem like he has a natural fit in this team
He's a pretty weird player, but they got him on a free transfer, and he can play a number of different roles. Seems like he was a utility buy, rather than someone scooped up to be a guaranteed starter.
Wish he could find his way to a team where he gets a little more license to be weird, he's on .84 G+A/90 right now and has some really fun elements to his game. But distribution of wealth, late capitalism, we can't have nice things, etc.
One match under very weird circumstances and such but not sure about the case for Bayern being the best club in Europe on this evidence! (this is coming from a defensive Liverpool supporter)
Bayern hasn't made the final of the Champions League since they won in 2013 - just a reflection of the randomness of the format or does that say something about the squads they've had?
Think it's the former. They make the final in Pep's final season if Muller doesn't miss a penalty. They lost to Madrid once in extra time at the Bernabeu, and then again the next year when Ulreich's brain shut off and the ball somehow squirmed through his legs on a pass-back.
I'm surprised neither team made a substitution during the break. Are managers going to be just as careless/conservative with subs now that they have 5 as they generally have been when they had 3?
What do my American viewers think of Fox's halftime strategy of "we're not even gonna try; here's a shitload of commercials and promos of future Bundesliga games"?
It’s better than what I recall their halftime shows being
As someone who only has watched the Prem but is giving Bundesliga a shot because I'm sports starved it's frustrating to not have the context that a halftime show could provide. Is this normally how Fox handles things or is this COVID specific?
Brutally honest, we'll promote anything at this point. Better than some halftime speech about Messi on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke
Can’t be any worse than what beinSports is showing us
I don't really get it - seems like a huge missed opportunity to provide context to viewers new to the league, of which there are many!
still better than Serie A halftimes on ESPN+ which sometimes end up being just live footage of the pitch being watered.
That’s important info. We can find out if West Brom truly watered their pitch or not
Congratulations to Robert Lewandowski for being Bayern's chosen penalty taker.
A really weak first half from Bayern -- one of their worst halves under Hansi Flick -- gets bailed out by a penalty.
That ball from Alaba to Davies just now -- so, so good.
Not the greatest game I have ever seen, but still fun chatting it up, as always. We'll be doing plenty more of these. Have great days, all.
Fantastic! wonder if anyone will be watching the werder bayer
match tom?
Loving Pavard just hugging and slapping players as they approach him for an elbow tap.
Match MVP?
He’s been an MVP since that goal for France
Some transfer news that, uh, ermmmmmmmm, what: https://www.football-italia.net/153342/juve-agree-barca-swap-deal
Some crude math to see who "won" the deal, per Transfermarkt:
Juve get:
-Semedo: $35.2 million
Barca get:
-Pjanic: $57.2 million
-De Sciglio: $10.45 million
-$27 million
Winner: Barca add $59.45 million
Wonder if this would mean Rabiot stays (and/or Emre Can isn't sold after his loan).
They also have Dejan Kulusevski coming in. If Pjanic is leaving, then Rabiot's only behind Matuidi and Betancur in Serie A minutes among Juve midfielders. Matuidi is 33, too.
hmmm. i dont understand it from Juve's end?
I'm not a big fan of ... any of the three players.
Please put some respect on Pjanic’s name
Do I need to teach you how the passage of time works again?
Father Time wouldn’t dare touch him for another cool decade at least
great for the mixtapes. the streets love him
is the best part of this deal the 25 million that will go to Martinez? cuz it feels like it
Don't think you can really parse the financials of a swap deal without knowing contract details.
Curse or not, I’m thankful to have live sports to watch again
Looks like Union Berlin are ... +1300 for the win. I tried to get some info on how books were approaching the empty stadium situation -- only for a bookmaker to tell me "home-field advantage is a myth". That's, uh, yeah. Anyway, those seem like incredibly long odds for a team that's playing at home within the current weirdness, but we shall see. https://twitter.com/DaveMasonBOL/status/1262046846958080000
Did not mention it yesterday but would just like to point out that we might have an O'Hanlon curse on our hands. Leipzig yesterday and the memorable Watford Liverpool game too.
Don't forget Frankurt, either.
is 5 subs going to be a common thing for most leagues and competitions that come back? Cant wait for the first club to do something wild like sub in 3+ fresh attackers at once past 70 minutes. or a team with a lead swapping in 3+ fresh defenders for attackers. give me chaos.
Yep, it seems like it's gonna be the case in every league. I need to see someone make five subs at halftime.
James Milner plus 5 fresh subs, just beautiful
The lack of production/financial effort is pretty amazing. But this is their last season w/ the rights, correct? Isn't Bundesliga going to ESPN+ next season?
Lewandoski, highest scoring non german in bundesliga, tiktok star.
Tiktok star is def being put first on his resume
What is Juve's incentive for the deal?
to not play Juan Cuadrado at right back anymore hehe.
that passage of play just now when Coman came on was nice movement
Coman's always been a nice player but he just can't seem to stay healthy. Who's his PL equivalent? Theo Walcott?
Fair to say that Bayern didn't have a better plan for Goretzka than "we bought him to keep our challengers down and monopolize German talent. I guess he can get some touches in the central third?" He's putting up good G+A numbers in limited minutes, but it doesn't seem like he has a natural fit in this team
He's a pretty weird player, but they got him on a free transfer, and he can play a number of different roles. Seems like he was a utility buy, rather than someone scooped up to be a guaranteed starter.
Wish he could find his way to a team where he gets a little more license to be weird, he's on .84 G+A/90 right now and has some really fun elements to his game. But distribution of wealth, late capitalism, we can't have nice things, etc.
He actually does seem like he'd be a better fit on a worse team. He's a goal-scoring/creating midfielder who is also ... terrible at passing?
One match under very weird circumstances and such but not sure about the case for Bayern being the best club in Europe on this evidence! (this is coming from a defensive Liverpool supporter)
A Bayern fan who only watched the Watford game might be saying the same thing in the other direction!
Bayern hasn't made the final of the Champions League since they won in 2013 - just a reflection of the randomness of the format or does that say something about the squads they've had?
Think it's the former. They make the final in Pep's final season if Muller doesn't miss a penalty. They lost to Madrid once in extra time at the Bernabeu, and then again the next year when Ulreich's brain shut off and the ball somehow squirmed through his legs on a pass-back.
I'm surprised neither team made a substitution during the break. Are managers going to be just as careless/conservative with subs now that they have 5 as they generally have been when they had 3?
All but one of the matches had a halftime sub yesterday, and so did the game this morning. Seems like they're mostly taking advantage.
Maybe they’re holding on for injuries? Saw plenty between yesterday and today
Wow Hoffenheim got wrecked, the XG gods did not reward them
Would love to know the rationale for the subs wearing masks? I doubt they wore them pre-game, so why have them on now?
But also, teams should be selling those in the team shop
https://fcbayern.com/shop/en/accessoires/masks/
That was extremely poor, what a bad way to give up a penalty
Genuine question: how does the Canadian national team stack up against America?
US has way more depth. Shouldn't be close.
It appears that Davies has decent speed
It appears that Davies has good speed
When you combine no fans with VAR checking your goal, you get the equivalent of a putt celebration
It's pre-pandemic, too. No excuse for that.